The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be aware of the events of our daily life that are revealing truth, goodness, and love as the gift of the Divine for our fullness of life.
The reading from the Book of Deuteronomy promises a New Prophet like Moses.
* [18:15] A prophet like me: from the context (opposition to the practices described in vv. 10–11) it seems that Moses is referring in general to all the true prophets who were to succeed him. This passage came to be understood in a quasi-Messianic sense in the New Testament (Mt 17:5; Jn 6:14; 7:40; Acts 3:22; 7:37). (Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 95 is a Call to Worship and Obedience.
* [Psalm 95] Twice the Psalm calls the people to praise and worship God (Ps 95:1–2, 6), the king of all creatures (Ps 95:3–5) and shepherd of the flock (Ps 95:7a, 7b). The last strophe warns the people to be more faithful than were their ancestors in the journey to the promised land (Ps 95:7c–11). This invitation to praise God regularly opens the Church’s official prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours. (Psalms, PSALM 95 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians offers advice to Virgins and Widows.
* [7:29–31] The world…is passing away: Paul advises Christians to go about the ordinary activities of life in a manner different from those who are totally immersed in them and unaware of their transitoriness. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus frees the Man with an Unclean Spirit.
* [1:23] An unclean spirit: so called because of the spirit’s resistance to the holiness of God. The spirit knows and fears the power of Jesus to destroy his influence; cf. Mk 1:32, 34; 3:11; 6:13.
* [1:24–25] The Holy One of God: not a confession but an attempt to ward off Jesus’ power, reflecting the notion that use of the precise name of an opposing spirit would guarantee mastery over him. Jesus silenced the cry of the unclean spirit and drove him out of the man.
* [1:24] What have you to do with us?: see note on Jn 2:4. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Vivian Amu exhorts us to speak with the authority and humility of a Child of God. Have a place where we belong and can pray. Have people in our life who call us their kin or neighbor. Find good or holy ways of keeping anxiety far from our person so we may live fully for the greater Glory of God.
I have found myself worrying about both the things of the Lord and things of the world as the second reading invites us to ponder over today. This week's readings are about speaking and preaching from a place of humility and authority. We are called to speak the word of God as Christ did and worry about nothing that distracts us from that which brings us closer to God. We are also prompted to keep a close sense of the nature of our distractions, especially those tied to our vocations and our path towards God. After all is said and done, when we hear God call us by name, do not be afraid to show yourself, to come out, teach with authority, and preach with your life as you lead with humility.
Loving and merciful God, help me rise out of the darkness of any anxieties so I may live and teach with authority and humility as a Child of God. Amen. (Amu, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Knowing without loving,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Those words show clearly that the demons had much knowledge, but entirely lacked love. They dreaded receiving their punishment from him. They did not love the righteousness that was in him. He made himself known to them to the extent he willed; and he willed to be made known to the extent that was fitting. But he was not made known to them as he is known to the holy angels, who enjoy participation in his eternity, in that he is the Word of God. To the demons he is known as he had to be made known, by striking terror into them, for his purpose was to free from their tyrannical power all who were predestined for his kingdom and glory, which is eternally true and truly eternal. Therefore, he did not make himself known to the demons as the life eternal, and the unchangeable light which illuminates his true worshipers, whose hearts are purified by faith in him so that they see that light. He was known to the demons through certain temporal effects of his power, the signs of his hidden presence, which could be more evident to their senses, even those of malignant spirits, than to the weak perception of human beings. (excerpt from CITY OF GOD 9.21) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Deuteronomy 18:15-20 comments that in every generation, God raised up prophets for the people. Deborah, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah: these and others heard God directly and proclaimed what they heard. But now, through Jesus, the living “Word” of God, everything has changed. By destroying sin and death, he has opened the pathway for us sinners to come before the all-holy God. Now, every single person can know God personally. Every single person can hear his voice—in Scripture, through the Church, and most important, in the depths of their hearts.
You don’t ever have to be afraid of coming into God’s presence! In fact, he is already present in you! Through his Spirit, he is urging you to call out to him, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15). He is waiting to receive you with open arms, to wash you clean in his mercy, and to fill your heart with his joy and consolation.
Your heavenly Father has a message that he wants to speak to you today—a message meant only for you. So quiet your heart, calm your fears, and listen.
“Here I am, Lord! I long to hear your voice today!” (Meditation on Deuteronomy 18:15-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that Deuteronomy was written centuries after the other books of the Pentateuch and it presents what should have happened to Israel rather than what happened. Comparing the attitude towards marriage of Paul in 1 Corinthians and the text in Ephesians possibly points to different authors. Friar Jude notes the beautiful teaching on marriage expressed in Vatican II documents. Jesus did not want to be misunderstood as a miracle worker who people followed for favours as He commands the evil spirit to silence in the exorcism in the Synagogue.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares a vision of love, reconciliation, and hope that Brian Mc Laren has written. Thomas Kuhn’s book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions introduced the term “paradigm shift.” A paradigm is a set of beliefs, stories, images, concepts, and structures that govern the way we think about something. Kuhn (1922–1996) held that paradigm change becomes necessary when a previous paradigm becomes so full of holes and patchwork “fixes” that a complete overhaul is necessary. The shift in thinking which might have felt threatening at one time now appears as the only way forward and as a real lifeline. Brian Mc Laren hopes we are at one of these critical junctures again. Might we be willing to adopt a new story, a new set of beliefs, values, and systems that could change (and maybe even save) humanity and our world? [3] He uses the phrase “framing story” to describe a similar change in paradigms.
[A framing story] gives people direction, values, vision, and inspiration by providing a framework for their lives…. If it tells us that the purpose of life is for individuals or nations to accumulate an abundance of possessions and to experience the maximum amount of pleasure during the maximum number of minutes of our short lives, then we will have little reason to manage our consumption. If our framing story tells us that we are in life-and-death competition with each other … then we will have little reason to seek reconciliation and collaboration and nonviolent resolutions to our conflicts….
But if our framing story tells us that we are free and responsible creatures in a creation made by a good, wise, and loving God, and that our Creator wants us to pursue virtue, collaboration, peace, and mutual care for one another and all living creatures, and that our lives can have profound meaning … then our society will take a radically different direction, and our world will become a very different place. [4] (McLaren & Higgins, 2024)
Our growth in spiritual awareness may be supported by the wisdom of prophets and authors who share their experiences and by our own encounters with the love and goodness of Christ in the events of our lives.
References
Amu, V. (2024, January 28). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012824.html
Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/18?
Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?21
McLaren, B., & Higgins, G. (2024, January 28). Stories Matter — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/stories-matter/
Meditation on Deuteronomy 18:15-20. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/28/884061/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/7?32
Psalms, PSALM 95 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/95?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Taught with Authority. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 28, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan28
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